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The Executive Talk

Our Editor-in-Chief Urs Gredig sits down with the CEOs and Chairmen of Swiss companies as well as other opinion leaders and policy makers in the country. Business is a topic, but not only: we want to know what makes these people tick! What drives the entrepreneurs, what is their business philosophy and how do they measure and face the challenges of their industry? Who is the person behind the image, the character behind the brand? The tone is fresh but challenging, personal yet authoritative, and always entertaining as we get to know the personalities that make up Switzerland.

Monika Walser is not a woman who beats around the bush. The CEO of the Swiss furniture manufacturer de Sede and former head of the iconic brand Freitag prefers to be direct. Since arriving at de Sede four years ago, she has led the indebted company back into the black. How did she manage that "open heart surgery" as she puts it, and how does her team react to her straightforward leadership tactics? Find out in this week's Executive Talk with editor in chief Urs Gredig.

Peter Voser has been called the quiet star among Swiss business leaders. The man who left school at 16 to do an apprenticeship may be known as soft-spoken, but he's arguably the most successful Swiss CEO of the last two decades. As head of Shell, he was rumored to be Europe's best paid executive, and as chairman of the board of ABB, he's now instrumental in defining the strategy for the Swiss engineering conglomerate. The avid football fan talks to CNNMoney Switzerland's editor in chief Urs Gredig about the big pay, big dreams, and big challenges of being a top manager.

Georges Kern has been called the "rock star CEO" of the Swiss watch industry. Last year the then-head of IWC and Richemont executive caused a stir with his surprise move to the top job at Breitling. With the backing of a private equity group that acquired an 80 percent stake in the 134-year-old brand, Kern has big plans for Breitling. What drives this industry veteran and style guru? Find out in "The Executive Talk" with editor-in-chief Urs Gredig.

The Egyptian business magnate Samih Sawiris has been called a dreamer and even a madman for his penchant to pursue the seemingly impossible. For instance, he made wine in his home country which didn't have a big wine tradition, built a tourist town in the Egyptian desert, and has now rejuvenated the sleepy Swiss mountain village of Andermatt, where he overcame local skepticism and built a new resort. So who is this scion of Egypt's wealthiest business family? And why is a man who is used to taking risks facing possibly his biggest risk yet in a concert hall. Find out in "The Executive Talk.

The former head of Deutsche Bank, Swiss-born Josef Ackermann, emerged from the financial crisis as arguably the most powerful banker in Europe. Praised by the media as an "international statesman" and a "pop star", he has also been called dangerous by critics – mostly due to his excessive profit targets. A few weeks after his 70th birthday, Josef Ackermann looks back on the turbulence of the financial crisis and tells CNNMoney Switzerland what he would have done differently.

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